The Religious Outlook

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 76, 25 October 1941, Page 8

The Religious Outlook

A PROPHET ON HIS WATCHTOWER “1 will stand upon my watch, and {set me upon the tower." —Ilabb. II I Habbakuk’s tower was not built of . stone and lime. Hiram's Tyrian worki men, with all their skill in hewn j stone, and in timber, and in iron, and I in brass, had no hand in building 'llabbakuk's tower. "The name of the! Lord" was his tower. The truth and the faithfulness and the tower of God- - ; these things were the deep and broad i foundations of Ilabbakuk's high tower, j into which he continually escaped, and from the high top of which he was j wont to look out upon the land, and {up to his God. God's grace and mercy | and long-suffering were the doors and | ' stairs, were the walls and battlements; | land God’s sure salvation was the golden and the far-shining roof of it. ; The Chaldeans had overrun the j whole land. Judah and Jerusalem had (for long been full of all but unpardon- 1 [able sin. God’s chosen and covenant' (people had despised and forsaken God.' The law of God was "slacked.” till ! the land was full of all unrighteous-i i ness. And thus it was that the judg- ( ment of God had already gone forth (against Judah and Jerusalem. It was! 'amid the indescribable cruelties and ! horrors of the invasion and possession jof Judah and Jerusaleum by the l Chaldeans that Habbakuk took up his < burden. And the prophet was alone; 1 .he was alone, and had no fellow in the (midst of all the desolate years. Alone! j and with his faith very hard pressed j I between God, in His righteous anger ( ion the one hand, and guilty Judah, under her great, agony and oppression ion the other. And wc have this great land noble-hearted prophet in all the {heat and burden of his work, in his j faith, and in his prayer, and in his (songs, all set before us with extraI ordinary beauty and impressiveness in j this wonderful little book: a book little ! in size, but one rich and great in divine i substance, and in intellectual and i spiritual power of every kind. "O ; Lord, how long shall I cry and Thou j will not hear! Even cry out unto Thee •of violence, and Thou wilt not save! I Why dost Thou show me iniquity and I cause me to behold grievance? For | spoiling and violence are before me .... and the wicked doth compass about the righteous. . . but I will stand , upon my watch, and I will set me upon ; the tower, and 1 will watch to see j what He will say to me. . . and the -Lord answered me and said, Write the 1 vision, and make it plain upon tables, i that he may run that readeth it." And. jat that, the prophet immediately came clown from his tower; and had great (tablets made by the workmen: and he j wrote this text upon the tables, ‘‘The I just shall live by his faith." And he j had the tables hung up on the temple walls, and on the gates and marketplaces of the city till he who ran from the oppression of the enemy, as well as he who ran to take arms against the oppressor, might read the legend—this legend, "The Just shall live by his faith." The Chaldeans understood not the taoles, but the oppressed people of God understood them; till it abides a proverb and an encouragement.- and a doctrine, and a sure hope to this day. "The just shall live by faith.” —Alcxan-. ! der Whyte, D.D. I will give Thee thanks with my I whole heart: Before the gods will I ring ' praises unto Thee. I will worship to- 1 ward Thy holy temple, and give thanks'; unto Thy name for Thy loving kindness and for Thy truth: For Thou hast magnified Thy word above all Thy name. In the day that I called Thou answeredst me, Thou didst encourage j me with strength in my soul. Though ! I walk in the midst of trouble. Thou i wilt revive me; Thou wilt stretch forth i Thy hand against the wrath of mine ! enemies, and Thy right hand will save j me. Jehovah will perfect that which , concerneth me: Thy loving kindness, O i I Jehovah, endureth for ever. —Psalm 138; 1-3, 7-8. ;